CAG’s role cannot be overlooked in federal structure: Ramesh

December 1, 2012 1:58 am

Staff Reporter, BhopalUnion Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India is a constitutional body and the recommendation of the CAG should not be overlooked in a federal structure.

“Notwithstanding any individual, the CAG is a constitutional body which cannot be overlooked. Hence, the Rural Development Ministry has urged the CAG to submit report on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) by monitoring a particular scheme every year,” Mr Ramesh told media here.

Mr Ramesh, who came here to take part in the launching of “Maila Mukti Yatra” under Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan, said that the Centre’s new scheme “Aap ka paisa, aap ke haath (direct cash transfer)” — announced recently — will help the beneficiaries of several government-sponsored to receive their funds directly. “In the first phase, 51 districts in the country, including three districts — Hoshangabad, Harda and Khandwa — of Madhya Pradesh were earmarked as trial basis. The definition of ‘Banking Correspondence’ has been changed and the beneficiaries will get the money through micro ATM,” Mr Ramesh said, adding that the “Direct Benefit Transfer” system aims in minmising corruption and to stop monopoly of banks.

The Minister said that there is no dearth of funds in Madhya Pradesh under the MGNREGS scheme and the Centre had sanctioned Rs 350 cr to the state of which Rs 100 cr has been released by today. He said a social audit is needed to those areas where maximum work was done.

Mr Ramesh said during his discussion with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan he urged him to appoint Lokpal in each district and he agreed to appoint Lokpal in two to three districts. He also asked Mr Chouhan to open separate accounts for the women labourers working in the MGNREGA.